The Alcohol Task Force unanimously agreed to recommend Sunday sales to the Board of Aldermen during their meeting on Thursday. Along with requesting sales at local restuarants, the task force suggested allowing off-premise sales at convenience stores. The suggestions will be given to the Board of Aldermen at their Oct. 19 meeting. (October 8, 2010, Page 1, 9A)

I was always fascinated by the idea that families would gather all of their worldly belongings into one wagon, brave the elements of the unforgiving west, and race to stake their claim to something they hadn’t even seen before. I remember trying to imagine what that must feel like. I would imagine the fear of not knowing what lay ahead and the anxiousness over this potentially dangerous, one way trip.

“Oxford in the Civil War: Battle for a Vanquished Land” by Stephen Enzweiler is the new book just published by The History Press of Charleston, S.C. The author is a journalist and senior editor for “Y’all” magazine published here in Oxford and he writes extensively about Mississippi and the South.

I really didn’t find out anything that I didn’t already know, but the way the author has presented the data makes for pleasurable reading. I have read these stories over the years in various different places, but Enzweiler presents them in manner that follows Oxford from its earliest day through the war years. (October 8, 2010, Page 2B)

Editor Don Whitten writes about an unusual – to him – site he ran across earlier this week: a clear plastic bag half full of water and holding two pennies hanging from the corner of a back doorway. The simple hanging baggie has a purpose – to help keep flies out of the building. Is that just an old wives’ tale or an effective home remedy? (October 8, 2010, Page 4A)

Attorney Josh Turner wanted to give back to the community where he was born and raised.

Now he has his chance.

On Monday, the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors approved hiring Turner to be the new public defender for the 3rd District Circuit Court, a position held for almost six years by attorney Ken Coghlan who resigned last month. (October 7, 2010, Page 5)

Janice Carr walked for six days up Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, as part of a personal life goal that she used to help raise funds for Angel Ranch, an emergency shelter for the victims of child abuse and neglect. (October 7, 2010, Page 1)

After almost selling out last year, organizers of this year’s International Christmas Market at the First Presbyterian Church are offering a special premier party Friday night for those who pay a $5 entry fee.

Profits from the sale and Friday’s entry fee will be donated to Oxford Medical Ministries, which provides medical care to the working poor with no insurance

The merchandise being sold has all been created by artisans from countries around the world, including Peru, Vietnam, Bangladesh and India.

The market will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday in the Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian on Van Buren Avenue. (October 7, 2010, Page 2)

VISTA is supporting a volunteer to help organize the North Central Mississippi Medical Reserve Corps. Judy Warren took on the job of training and recruiting volunteers through the RSVP office for the emergency volunteer-manned system. (October 7, 2010, Page 5)

AmeriCorps volunteers open Community Writing Center at the Lafayette-Oxford Public Library at 401 Bramlett Blvd. Anyone in the community can receive free writing assistance from student tutors on Monday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. or on Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. (October 7, 2010, Page 1)

More and more examples of bullying among students, teenagers and young adults are coming to light, and so many of the cases wind up with serious and sad circumstances and actions. Staff writer Melanie Addington gives examples of problems students face from their peers, especially in today’s world of social networking, and urges adults to get involved to help control or end the practice of bullying. (October 7, 2010, Page 4)